Abstract:
Most scholars agree that asylum seekers are entitled to Refugee Status Determination (RSD) procedure. The fact that Thailand does not acceded to 1951 Convention Relating to Refugee Status and its 1967 Related Protocol makes it depends entirely on national RSD mechanism. This work acknowledges the prominence of refugee status as it paves the way to protection mechanism for refugees afterward. The aim of this study is to explore the refugee status determination regime in Thailand which ultimately is measured how effective it is being conducted. The measurement is done through examining what level Thailand conforms its practices with the core values of RSD procedure set forth by the United Nations High Commissioner of Refugees (UNHCR) which is internationally recognized as the expertise agency on refugee arena. Upon the discovering of RSD practices, it shows that despite Thailand has no formal RSD procedure, Thailand does attempt to adhere its practices to international standards ; creating RSD ad hoc style of procedure. Although an ad hoc RSD is conducted by the Thai government, UNHCR is assumed to carry RSD for urban refugees (except Myanmar asylum seekers) under UNHCRs own mandate. The effectiveness of RSD practices in Thailand, hence, depends on the examination through the aspect from the Thai government and UNHCR mechanism or both actors.
Thammasat University. Thammasat University Library